Game Jam
?
Year :
2025
Duration :
3 Days
Platform :
PC
Role :
Game Designer / Developer
Collaborators :
4
Core Loop :
Explore surreal environments, interact with bizarre NPCs and objects, uncover cryptic clues, and piece together the fragmented narrative to understand the underlying story including a chaotic platformer mini-game that becomes a standout highlight.
My Contribution :
Designed the core "narrative ambiguity" structure intentionally fragmented story beats that gradually reveal hidden connections and meaning.
Created interaction systems and environmental storytelling techniques that encourage replay and player theorycrafting.
Designed and implemented a custom "Cat Mario"-style platformer mini-game featuring chaotic physics, unexpected obstacles, and punishing difficulty that paradoxically became the most memorable moment for players.
Scripted NPC dialogue and behaviors that appear nonsensical on first encounter but gain context as the larger narrative unfolds.
Balanced pacing between exploration, discovery, and moments of clarity to maintain intrigue without frustrating players.
Collaborated with the team to ensure every seemingly random element had a thematic or narrative purpose.
Design Challenge :
The core challenge was to create a game where chaos feels intentional. Early playtesters found the non-linear, seemingly disconnected narrative frustrating they couldn't tell if randomness was a design choice or a bug. The game risked feeling unfinished or poorly designed rather than intriguingly surreal.
Additionally, the embedded mini-game needed to feel jarring enough to match the surreal tone, but engaging enough to keep players coming back despite repeated failures.
My Solution :
Designed a "breadcrumb" system where seemingly random NPCs and objects actually contained subtle visual and dialogue callbacks that would resonate on replay or deeper analysis.
Structured the narrative to have multiple "mini-revelations" small moments where a previous interaction suddenly makes sense to reward attentive players without requiring a specific solution path.
Created the chaotic platformer mini-game with punishing difficulty curves, unexpected level design twists, and physics that rewarded experimentation. The repeated failures became a feature, not a bug players found the absurdity of continuously trying hilarious and satisfying.
Used environmental design and NPC placement to guide player curiosity without hand-holding, ensuring exploration felt organic.
Worked with the team to document the hidden story connections, ensuring every design choice served the larger narrative arc.
Results & Impact :
Delivered a unique narrative experience that stood out in a Game Jam or indie context for its experimental approach to storytelling.
The embedded platformer mini-game became the standout highlight, with players specifically praising the chaotic, fail-forward gameplay loop that encouraged repeated attempts and laughter.
Players reported a strong sense of discovery and satisfaction when narrative threads began to connect, creating memorable "wow" moments.
Successfully demonstrated how a deliberately punishing, chaotic experience can be more engaging than polished difficulty a key insight into balancing player frustration with fun.
The game's surreal yet purposeful design established a distinctive identity within the crowded indie game market.
More Projects
Game Jam
?
Year :
2025
Duration :
3 Days
Platform :
PC
Role :
Game Designer / Developer
Collaborators :
4
Core Loop :
Explore surreal environments, interact with bizarre NPCs and objects, uncover cryptic clues, and piece together the fragmented narrative to understand the underlying story including a chaotic platformer mini-game that becomes a standout highlight.
My Contribution :
Designed the core "narrative ambiguity" structure intentionally fragmented story beats that gradually reveal hidden connections and meaning.
Created interaction systems and environmental storytelling techniques that encourage replay and player theorycrafting.
Designed and implemented a custom "Cat Mario"-style platformer mini-game featuring chaotic physics, unexpected obstacles, and punishing difficulty that paradoxically became the most memorable moment for players.
Scripted NPC dialogue and behaviors that appear nonsensical on first encounter but gain context as the larger narrative unfolds.
Balanced pacing between exploration, discovery, and moments of clarity to maintain intrigue without frustrating players.
Collaborated with the team to ensure every seemingly random element had a thematic or narrative purpose.
Design Challenge :
The core challenge was to create a game where chaos feels intentional. Early playtesters found the non-linear, seemingly disconnected narrative frustrating they couldn't tell if randomness was a design choice or a bug. The game risked feeling unfinished or poorly designed rather than intriguingly surreal.
Additionally, the embedded mini-game needed to feel jarring enough to match the surreal tone, but engaging enough to keep players coming back despite repeated failures.
My Solution :
Designed a "breadcrumb" system where seemingly random NPCs and objects actually contained subtle visual and dialogue callbacks that would resonate on replay or deeper analysis.
Structured the narrative to have multiple "mini-revelations" small moments where a previous interaction suddenly makes sense to reward attentive players without requiring a specific solution path.
Created the chaotic platformer mini-game with punishing difficulty curves, unexpected level design twists, and physics that rewarded experimentation. The repeated failures became a feature, not a bug players found the absurdity of continuously trying hilarious and satisfying.
Used environmental design and NPC placement to guide player curiosity without hand-holding, ensuring exploration felt organic.
Worked with the team to document the hidden story connections, ensuring every design choice served the larger narrative arc.
Results & Impact :
Delivered a unique narrative experience that stood out in a Game Jam or indie context for its experimental approach to storytelling.
The embedded platformer mini-game became the standout highlight, with players specifically praising the chaotic, fail-forward gameplay loop that encouraged repeated attempts and laughter.
Players reported a strong sense of discovery and satisfaction when narrative threads began to connect, creating memorable "wow" moments.
Successfully demonstrated how a deliberately punishing, chaotic experience can be more engaging than polished difficulty a key insight into balancing player frustration with fun.
The game's surreal yet purposeful design established a distinctive identity within the crowded indie game market.
More Projects
Game Jam
?
Year :
2025
Duration :
3 Days
Platform :
PC
Role :
Game Designer / Developer
Collaborators :
4
Core Loop :
Explore surreal environments, interact with bizarre NPCs and objects, uncover cryptic clues, and piece together the fragmented narrative to understand the underlying story including a chaotic platformer mini-game that becomes a standout highlight.
My Contribution :
Designed the core "narrative ambiguity" structure intentionally fragmented story beats that gradually reveal hidden connections and meaning.
Created interaction systems and environmental storytelling techniques that encourage replay and player theorycrafting.
Designed and implemented a custom "Cat Mario"-style platformer mini-game featuring chaotic physics, unexpected obstacles, and punishing difficulty that paradoxically became the most memorable moment for players.
Scripted NPC dialogue and behaviors that appear nonsensical on first encounter but gain context as the larger narrative unfolds.
Balanced pacing between exploration, discovery, and moments of clarity to maintain intrigue without frustrating players.
Collaborated with the team to ensure every seemingly random element had a thematic or narrative purpose.
Design Challenge :
The core challenge was to create a game where chaos feels intentional. Early playtesters found the non-linear, seemingly disconnected narrative frustrating they couldn't tell if randomness was a design choice or a bug. The game risked feeling unfinished or poorly designed rather than intriguingly surreal.
Additionally, the embedded mini-game needed to feel jarring enough to match the surreal tone, but engaging enough to keep players coming back despite repeated failures.
My Solution :
Designed a "breadcrumb" system where seemingly random NPCs and objects actually contained subtle visual and dialogue callbacks that would resonate on replay or deeper analysis.
Structured the narrative to have multiple "mini-revelations" small moments where a previous interaction suddenly makes sense to reward attentive players without requiring a specific solution path.
Created the chaotic platformer mini-game with punishing difficulty curves, unexpected level design twists, and physics that rewarded experimentation. The repeated failures became a feature, not a bug players found the absurdity of continuously trying hilarious and satisfying.
Used environmental design and NPC placement to guide player curiosity without hand-holding, ensuring exploration felt organic.
Worked with the team to document the hidden story connections, ensuring every design choice served the larger narrative arc.
Results & Impact :
Delivered a unique narrative experience that stood out in a Game Jam or indie context for its experimental approach to storytelling.
The embedded platformer mini-game became the standout highlight, with players specifically praising the chaotic, fail-forward gameplay loop that encouraged repeated attempts and laughter.
Players reported a strong sense of discovery and satisfaction when narrative threads began to connect, creating memorable "wow" moments.
Successfully demonstrated how a deliberately punishing, chaotic experience can be more engaging than polished difficulty a key insight into balancing player frustration with fun.
The game's surreal yet purposeful design established a distinctive identity within the crowded indie game market.